New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-11
SUPPLEMENT.
PAGES 9 TO is.
CITY TELEPHONE RATES.
CHARGES AND SERVICE IN NEw-YORK.

The Telephone Investigating Committee secured a
rood many interesting facts yesterday about the ele
phonc system this city, The sole witness OF the day
was General H. g. Hudekoper. the vice president and
general manager OF the Metropolitan Company. When
he equal TO the occasion Mr. Camp. who sat at
his elbow. inspired him with facts and figures
In December last the witness said the number Of the
companys subscribers was 6,929. Subscribers up in
Harlem had local rates of their own, 500 a year u
dwelling houses and 500 year for business purposes
liza Harlem man wished to get into communication with
the of the city he had TO pay 10 cents at
public telephone. There four Glasses of
rates in this city, $3.50 for the law, $3.50
for the metropolitan for business purposes
500 for residents and s75 for residents
already blessed with telephone for business The
law telephone used for lawyers, gave the most
rand service and required service OF six to eight ope
stors and clerks at the Court House. whose business 1t
wa, TO notify subscribers OF on their calendar
for following day we'll as to keep them Informed
OF points required the Office pertaining any OF their
cases progress All this extra service cost only $50
year the regular business service. The company
paid 5000 rental for facilities in the Court House 1t
paid $50 year for each wire crossing the Brooklyn
Bridge and paid 5000 beside operators salaries main
tain Its Brooklyn service.
RATES FOR TELEPHONES AT THE EXCHANGES
The $50 rates for business purposes and tele
hOnc communication in this city. Some subscribers IN
Jersey City paid this. among them the Pennsylvania
RI ilrOad Company Members OF the Produce Leather,
Petroleum and Maritime Exchanges having business
telephones OF their had the privilege Of using those
al tie exchanges The companys service at the Produce
Excl cost 81 oOO and tired ten twelve opera
The number OF 81 so subscribers $500 the great
bulk NJ paving patrons. There fifty outsiders who
got per reduction by taking fonr telephones
Distance had ne effect prices Manhattan Island
House service at Fort Washington cost only SIS
General Hudekeper fall the that in reality the
Pennsylvania Railroad paid cash for its telephones.
1t allowed the Metropolitan Company to occupy its ferry
fnrf OF AVID ODoftp al
benefit was exchanged
Anyone on Manhattan Island could have telephone
for domestic and social purposes" the witness said,
for 800.
Mr. nan goes home after business can he
leaves the house in the morning ~
Oice. he must pay the usual rates.
The witness said that II any business subscriber had
telephone, then he might for himself his book
keeper for house for S5 Because OF lack OF switch
board capacity since last spring due TO the underground
movement tho company had bseu refusing 500 rates
right along until recently. when the difficulty had been
surmounted The resumption effected ten days ago
There 103 public pay stations in the city, at
which fifteen cents message is charged, and Of
:his five cents went to subscribers for operating
rights. The number OF trunk rates subscribers
was between so and 100 Subscribers private lines,
79O in number, paid from $3.50 to $500 annually The
$500 wire Newark y. j. The majority Of the pri
waite wires led TO the Stock Exchange
FIFTY THOUSAND CALLS DAY.
As indicative Of telephone activity, the witness said
that day-November 81 last-there were 50,9s7
telephone call. in this cityan of IA calls for
each subscrber One made 6s calls another
ceived 1888 The liveliest telephone centre was Fall
River steamboat In summer. Two batteries were neceS
sary these heavy
The outburst OF laughter in this inquiry
when the witness sought that the csst OF
switchboard increases IN geomerica ratio with the
number subscribers "For instance" said he, 81" It
costs nothing for two 1t will cost four times as much for
feur The witness planned that four subscribers con-
Meeting made connections and fifty would make
$500 There a limit TO all this and 5000 sub
scribers all that could be taken at exchange
one operator could attend 800 connections Sui in
the system the company allowed only thrtyhve sub
scrbcrs TO operator and fifty In the Metropolitan.
Tie trunk lines required three times much clerical
force proportionatey as the ordinary lines.
Dropping into statistics again, the witness said that
pole lire mileage Of the company in this city on January
last 59l6, which would require 200 miles Of con-
aut when under ground The aerial, underground and
pole lines, houseop fixtures and submarine cables dead
Ing to Jersey City, etc. worth S32l,254 ~
Telephone csmpanics have troubles. storm of sleet
and snow General Hudekoper said would give the COM
pany 1000 cases of breakage some mornings "Do you
go crazy, thenl" asked Mr.. Saxton. mo; VIC spend
sol ,OOJ 10 straightcn the wires cut said Lawyer
Camp.
Z" is this an extraordinary case I"
"Wcll yes" the lawyer admitted
The witness said it would take four or five lays TO mend
the 1000 breaks. There daily complaints Electric
wires caused much trouble Those the Bridge
parallel the cempanys and caused great disturbance
No one had complained OF rates.
Odd 10 you TO reduce the rates A-No.
Qie asse ene i a. matter Of frendsGpl
good nature There never was case IN an honest
Won never knew Of easel A-No except in the
there gSs, y 1 1e sane as e dI nean '0F inc
G-IIas there any application from the newspapers
THE FREE LIST SMALL But EXCLUSIVE
The question of free telephones led to lively dodg
Ing General Huidskoper held in his hand list OF
names numbering eleven lie said Of those who had free
telephones from the Metropolitan. "scvcral OF them,
said he care given As courtesy officers Of city &C.
partments.'
ns sT;.S's sa a the e At ' a
ope swsy commssioner but that is mere
u M %rs ssx ION. Won the lsti
The witness docking at Lawyer Camp)-yeA
list Chairman TH Ainsworth and Mr. exchanged
glance. and the result was that the chairman '"d
90 not think that it will be necessary"
Mr. sa1ton 10 the wtness)-You say 1t is matter OF
The wiinsss-Yes sir; due to these genemes' official
relations to us.
chair after saying that per cent OF the Metropota
telephones without rent from the American Bel
Company.
AN INTRUDER FROM BROOKLYN.
The hearing was about to be adjourned when man OF
sixty years. with wcdevelspod head OF hair stepped
up TO the table and planted batteries two receivers
and keyboard upon II.
"Who are you asked Mr.. Ainsworth
81 am John Il. Strong OF Brooklyn" was the answer,
"and formerly Of New-Orleans. My brother is the dis
coveror OF the original telephone This is the
relay telephone which have the patent granted In
May 1880" Mr.. strong threw down his letters patent
and as the committee Looked in ast0nshmeat he went
10 describe his telephone deponden only he said
principle o. polarity. IAN transRitters he exclaimed
"are ridiculous You transmit nothing. The telephone
depends on polarity
MI Answorth (midly)-Iiavo you encountered any OBJ
stscles in your path